Thurs 22nd Oct 26

A break from seawatching today meant time for a walk round the site, I started at the chippings lay-by, no sign of any whitefronts but 100+ Lapwing on the field and a Redwing on the bottom hedge was a good start, along the approach road a Goldcrest was in exactly the same place as yesterday and another a bit further along, a large tit flock moved through too quickly for me to pick anything different out of it. The rest of the bushes and the dell were windy and uneventful.

On a walk along the front a single juvenile goose was seen on the front of the scrape which looked a bit interesting so I went to the hide for a closer look, as I set up on the goose a wader walked through the back of my view and re-focusing on what I initially thought was a Greenshank turned out to be a Lesser Yellowlegs. The bird spent a lot of time behind the island out of view but during the next hour of searching a Jack Snipe and a Water Rail were located.

Photo Mick Rodwell©

 Reports from today

Pete Loud

14:44 Merlin south past sluice, still no sign of Yellowlegs, going for a walk and will have a look later.

15:44 Yellowlegs is now showing to the left on the Island.

16:29 Lesser Yellowlegs is being very elusive, went missing behind the island for over 2 hours, then showed for a couple of minutes and then disappeared behind the island again, so anybody looking for it will have to be patient.

Brian Combes

16:33 Yellowlegs again showing to right of island.

16:39 Has just walked back behind island.

17:53 Walk from Frinton to Haven and back along seawall this morning,  plus hide from 13:00-14:30 (unsuccessfully waiting for the yellowlegs) and 16:30-16:45 (successfully), included:

1 lesser yellowlegs (a dainty delight worth waiting for), 1 jack snipe, 2+ firecrest (2 approach road, 1 east end of carpark), 1 white-fronted goose (juv), 7 goldcrest, 2 brambling, 84 goldfinch (south in small groups through the morning), 24 skylark (south), 19 mipit (south), 3 stonechat, 1 great spotted woodpecker, 3 turnstone, 2 greenfinch, 14 chaffinch, 1 sparrowhawk, 7 Cetti’s (singing), 4 reed bunting, 1 rock pipit, 2 green woodpecker, 4 song thrush, 9 blackbird.

 

Wed 21st Oct 26

Pete and I had another quite productive seawatch this morning (see below) followed by a short walk and visit to the hide, apart from the Firecrest & Goldcrest that gave us some superb views it was very quiet.

From the hide: 24 Teal, 6 Wigeon, 4 Cormorant, 1 Blk T Godwit, 15 Blk H Gulls, 1 Common Gull, 3 Stonechat.

Reports from today

John Sawyer

13:37 2 Firecrest approach road.

Pete Loud

13:52 Seawatch from the shelter (8-11Am) 6 Little Gull, 1 kittiwake, 25+ Gannet, 1 Gt cr. Grebe, 2 Red thr Diver, 20+ Common Scoter and a few Wigeon, Brent & Teal, walk along the approach road late morning revealed, 1 Firecrest & 1 Goldcrest, no sign of Whitefronts, they appear to have moved on.

 

Tues 20th Oct 26

Reports from today

Laurence Drumond

07:23 Eared Owl sp. Haven shelter but blown away!

Matt Lonsdale

07:27 35/40 whitefronts sw over slade road. Holland on sea @ 07:18.

09:10 Shag on sea off sluice. Firecrest sewage farm gate. 5 whitefronts in/off. 3 behind raised platform then other road. 30 grey geese on arable flushed by farmer and landed over the road.

09:22 At least 10 whitefronts from chippings lay-by but obscured + male Merlin.

09:42 Another 15 whitefronts SW Slade road + mistle thrush on deck then flew N towards haven.

20:13 Haven this afternoon- The shelter redstart inspired a brief bush bash at haven late afternoon (only car park and approach road covered) 

A flock of 35 fieldfares in the car park the highlight. 15 goldcrest, 1 chiff, 1 blackcap, 20 cont blackbird, 2 redwing, 5 song thrush, robins all over the place. 6 whitefronts from chippings lay-by

Simon Cox

13:21 Haven Seawatch 0710-1140 Brent 700+, Barnacle Goose 2, Shelduck 21, Pintail 1, Tufted Duck 1, Wigeon 43+, Teal 12+, R-b Merganser 7, Red-t Diver 7, Little Gull 1, Grey Heron 1, eared Owl 1 (distant at sea), Guillemot 1 (close offshore, attacked by GBBG ? Killed), Auk sp 1, Skylark 16, C Scoter 50+, Kittiwake  2 (ad & juv at 1130)  SC, LD, PL,MR.

20:12 Omitted Gannet 10 from earlier report.

Pete Loud

15:39 Leach’s Petrel just passed the shelter half way out north.

15:50 2 1st winter Kittiwake north.

16:10 Redstart on the grass behind the seawatching shelter

16:30 3 more Kittiwake close north.

 

Mon 19th Oct 26

Pete and I started the morning with a sea-watch 08:00 - 10:30 (see below).

4 Cormorant, 20+ Herring Gulls and a Turnstone  were on the sluice rocks and a Med Gull was sitting on the sea just offshore. 

From the hide: 37 Greylags, 8 Teal, 6 Shoveler, 4 Cormorant, 20+ Lapwing, 2 Blk T Godwit, 7 Blk H Gulls, 5+ Stonechat, 2 Song Thrush, Meadow Pipits and lots of Starling. PL/MR

Reports from today

Pete Loud

13:04 Seawatch from the shelter this morning for couple of hours,1 Goldeneye south, 1 Guillemot &1 Red throated Diver north, otherwise fairly quiet, just a few wigeon, teal and Brent. Yesterday’s seawatch before the heavy rain, highlights, 7 Eider, 6 Merganser and Short-eared Owl. See what tomorrow brings, nothing of note, on the scrape or around the bushes.(MR,PL).

Simon Cox

13:08 Minimal passage evident in reedbed area this morning. Water Rail & Bearded Tit still in the area, 3 Swallows N!

Just 5 ringed: Goldcrest, Cetti’s Warbler, Wren, Great Tit & Blue Tit.

 

Sun 18th Oct 26

I joined PL for a seawatch this morning and ended up with a nice selection of birds, 97 Brent Geese (70s 27n), 7 Shelduck (n), 7 Eider (n), 1 Common Scoter (n), 1 R B Merganser (n), 5 Pintail (s), 12 Wigeon, 1 Teal, 7 Gannet, 5 Cormorant plus several groups of duck and a couple of waders too distant for positive id.

Then a quick visit to the hide before a good soaking on the way back, was it really worth it

From the hide: 13 Shoveler, 9 Teal, 3 Blk T Godwit, 1 Lapwing, 20 Blk H Gulls, 1 LBB Gull. PL/MR

 

Sat 17th Oct 26

A bit cooler out today with a brisk northerly wind.

From the Hide: 29 Greylag, 8 Teal, 5 Shoveler, 2 Cormorant, 3 Blk T Godwits, 2 Curlew, 1 Redshank, 23 Blk H Gulls, 5 Herring Gulls, 2 Common Gulls, 1 Marsh Harrier, 3 Swallows, 2 Stonechat, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Pied Wags, Meadow Pipit & Goldfinch. PL/MR et.al. 

Things picked up a bit on the way back with a Water Rail on the brook behind the sluice, 7 Teal sitting on the sea and 2 R B Mergansers heading north offshore PL/MR.

Reports from today

Pete Loud

17:59 Short seawatch from the shelter at 16:45 for 1/2 hour,1 drake Eider north, 2 Arctic skua south & 2 other Skuas south too far out to safely identify.

 

Fri 16th Oct 26

Reports from today

Brian Combes

07:58 Haven: Bearded Tit still present.

18:03 A wet walk from Frinton to The Haven and back via the seawall, this morning, included: 1 bearded tit (showing well), 1 water rail (calling, Frinton end), 1 chiff (approach road), 6 stonechat, 5 redwing, 14 song thrush, 8 blackbird, 25 mipit (17 south), 27 goldfinch (south), 15 pied wag (2 south), 1 rock pipit, 6 reed bunting, 7 chaff, 5 linnet, 8 Cetti’s (singing), 1 oystercatcher, 1 turnstone, 1 Chinese muntjac.

 

Thurs 15th Oct 26

Quiet offshore and around the bushes this morning just a few Greenfinch & Goldfinch around the Dell, 4 Mallard on the brook and a Turnstone on the rocks with the gulls again.

From the hide: 27 Greylag, 12 Teal, 5 Shoveler, 5 Wigeon, 5 Cormorant, 1 Grey Heron, 24 Lapwing (on the arable), 2 Curlew, 1 Water Rail, 21 Blk H Gulls, 2 Buzzard, 1 G S Woodpecker (over), 6+ Stonechat, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Swallows, Meadow Pipit Linnet & Reed Bunting, 1 Chinese Water Deer. PL/RJ/MO'H/MR

A walk to French Pt. showed that the Bearded Tit from yesterday was still around.

Reports from today

Mike O'Hanlon

11:28 Bearded Tit (f) in Simon’s ringing area just now.

Photo Mike O'Hanlon©

 

Wed 14th Oct 26

From the hide: 35 Greylag, 17 Teal, 3 Wigeon, 3 Shoveler, 2 Grey Heron, 1 Cormorant, a few Lapwing (on the arable), 6 Curlew, 3 Blk T Godwits, 1 Snipe, 1 Water Rail (heard only), 36 Blk H Gulls, 2 Med Gulls (over), 3 Buzzard, 1 Marsh Harrier, 10+ Stonechat, 1 Cetti's Warbler, Meadow Pipit, Linnet, Skylark & Reed Buntings.

Photo Richard Jeffree©

On a walk to French Pt. it was great to see a Beardie & Cetti's warbler in the hand, (see below & Ringing page).

4 Mallard were on the brook and a Turnstone on the sluice with the gulls on the way back.

Reports from today

Matt Lonsdale

08:51 Bearded Tit behind council compound, original on mounds/sluice area.

10:04 Just a short dog walk this morning but lots of bits and pieces around. Highlight the bearded tit + small arrival of thrushes. 8 redwing and handful of each song thrush and blackbird. Single sandwich tern south offshore. Decent passage overhead inc 2 brambling and 2 swallow.

Richard Jeffree

08:52 Male Brambling dell

15:02  A couple of shots from this morning

Photo Richard Jeffree©

Photo Richard Jeffree©

Pete Loud

14:45 Haven this morning, the 2 Star birds were the cracking male Brambling in the Dell bushes and the female Bearded Tit found later by Simons ringing site, luckily it found one of his mist nets so managed to see it  in the hand, presumably the bird Matt had found earlier in the day, obviously relocated to more typical habitat, plus a nice Cetti’s warbler, always nice to see these birds in the hand to really appreciate them up close. Couple of late Swallows heading south and still a trickle of Brent offshore south from the cafe.

Brian Combes

17:24 Haven first thing this morning included:10 redwing (thrushes quickly moving inland), 9 song thrush, 4 blackbird, 1 brambling (south), 1 grey wag (south), 124 goldfinch (south), 75 mipit (south + many others grounded), 53 linnet (south), 30 skylark (south), 9 chaffinch (3 south), 5 starling (west), 3 siskin (south), 3 rock pipit (2 south, 1 on French Point), 15 reed bunting (4 south), 120+ wood pigeon (moving north in two flocks first thing), 2 chiff (approach road, 1 singing), 5 stonechat, 2 goldcrest, 5 Cetti’s (singing), 4 jay, 4 black-tailed godwit, 2 shoveler, 1 Chinese muntjac.

 

Tues 13th Oct 26

Very quiet on the scrape this morning.

From the hide: 32 Greylags, 1 Brent Goose, 10 Cormorants, 12 Teal, 1 Wigeon, 1 Shoveler, 3 Blk T Godwits, 2 Curlew, 22 Blk H Gulls, 3+ Stonechat, 3 Reed Bunting, Blue, Great & L T Tits, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Song Thrush. SC/RJ/MR et.al.

Reports from today

Matt Lonsdale

10:20 Shelter- 07:50-10:00 1 velvet scoter (Drk, N), 2 gannet (N). All else south 228 wigeon, 103 Brent, 30 common scoter, 23 teal, 28 dunlin, 4 cormorant, 3 common gull. 

Limited vis-mig- 2 grey wag SW, 10 skylark, trifle of mipits and odd finch.

Steve Entwistle

12:52 Red breasted Merganser female South, 50/60 dunlin South, 1500  brent South , 2 pintail South

Peter & l

 

Mon 12th Oct 26

Reports from today

Pete Loud

13:09 Seawatch from the shelter this morning 0800-1200, strong sun made viewing difficult at times, nearly all movement to the south, strong passage of Brent with at least 2000+, 100+ Wigeon, and a few Teal, 12 Common Scoter, 1 drake Velvet Scoter, 1 Razorbill, 1 juv . Arctic Tern, 7 Arctic Skua, 30+ Gannet, 1 Sooty & 1 Manx Shearwater.

Graham Sutton

17:36 HH shelter 1440-1645 (all South): Brent 3,420, Wigeon 510, Teal 1, Pintail 1, Tufted Duck 1, C Scoter 16, Little Egret 1, Gannet 2, Curlew 1, Dunlin 8.

A few small groups of Chaffinches & Meadow Pipits S/in-off.

 

Sun 11th Oct 26

Reports from today

Pete Loud

Very quiet as of late at the Haven this morning, although a few raptors were seen from the hide, but distant over the arable, Peregrine pair, 1 Red Kite, Marsh Harrier and Sparrowhawk, 1 Swallow, 2 Stonechat on a walk to Sandy point.(PL & RJ).

 

Sat 10th Oct 26

Once again 5 minutes late to see the Glossy Ibis, but other than that very poor again today.

From the Hide: 93 Greylags, 7 Teal, 33 Blk H Gulls, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Glossy Ibis, 2 Buzzard, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel, a flock of small passerines were up on the arable most likely Linnets

Reports from today

Richard Jeffree

10:05 Glossy Ibis tried to land briefly on Leon's harassed by greylags continued on SW.

 

Fri 9th Oct 26

Reports from today

Pete Loud

12:45 Seawatch from the shelter, (8:45-10:30) 1Arctic Skua, 2 Gannet (1 north, 1 southbound), 100+Brent, 5 Pintail, 1 Shoveler, a few groups of Wigeon & Teal, 80+ Dunlin, 2 Shelduck.

 

Thurs 8th Oct 26

Reports from today

Richard Jeffree

17:13 Nfy female Scaup sitting on the sea off the sailing club/ shelter.

 

Wed 7th Oct 26

The only things of note today were a group of 8 Great Black-backed Gulls on the sluice ranging through from juv. to adult, and a cracking Merlin first sitting on the back hedge then having a fly around before sitting up on the arable for a while, otherwise dire.

From the hide: 104 Greylag, 8 Teal, 120 Lapwing (on the arable), 20 Blk H Gulls, 2 LBB's, 1 Med Gull (over), 1 Buzzard, 1 Merlin, 1 Kestrel, 4 Stonechat, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Chinese Water Deer. PL/RJ/MR.

Reports from today

Steve Grimwade

17:57 Afternoon at Holland Haven: 70 Song Thrush in off, 1 Redwing in off, 100 Chaffinch in off, 2 Blackbird, 40 Meadow Pipit in off.

 

Tues 6th Oct 26

From the hide: 84 Greylags, 4 Teal, 1 Shoveler, 154 Lapwing, 22 Curlew, 1 Snipe, 1 Avocet, 54 Blk H Gulls, 2 Herring Gulls, 2 LBB's, 1 Med Gull (Over), 1 Grey Heron, 2 Cormorant, 5+ Buzzard, 4 Meadow Pipit, 3+ Chiffchaff, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Chinese Water Deer, 1 Muntjac. PL/RJ/MO'H/MR.

 

Mon 5th Oct 26

No sign of yesterday's Jack Snipe but the Cattle Egret was still around, otherwise very quiet all round apart from the Greylag's

From the hide: 1 Mute Swan, 115 Greylags, 5 Teal, 5 Cormorant, 1 Cattle Egret, c40 Lapwing, 1 Snipe, 1 Curlew, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Buzzard, 7 Swallows, 6 Pied Wags, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Chiffchaff. PL/RJ/MO'H/MR

 

Sun 4th Oct 26

Much the same on the scrape today with the exception of Matt's Cattle Egret first thing (still around late morning) and a Jack Snipe in the favourite spot on the back edge of the scrape to the left of the island.

 

The Cattle Egret upsetting the cows Sunday morning snooze

From the hide: 142 Greylags, 10+ Teal, 6 Shoveler, 1 Shelduck, 4 Cormorant, 1 Cattle Egret, 80+ Lapwing, 12 Curlew, 1 Snipe, 1 Jack Snipe, 1 Buzzard, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Hobby, 1 Kestrel, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Chiffchaff. RJ/MO'H/MR.

Reports from today

Matt Lonsdale

07:29 Cattle Egret over sewage works now landed with cows north of hide.

Richard Jeffree

10:42 Jack Snipe back of scrape found by MR.

 

Sat 3rd Oct 26

From the hide: 130+ Greylag, c20 Teal, 11 Shoveler, 1 Shelduck, 3 Cormorant, 50+ Lapwing, 52 Blk H Gulls, 6 Herring Gulls, 2 LBB's, large number of Swallows & House Martins, 10+ Pied Wags, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Chinese Water Deer. MR

Reports from today

Pete Loud

12:26 Haven this morning, round the Dell, 3 Chiffchaff and a number of Chaffinch and Goldfinch, little in the bushes but surprisingly considering we are now into October a heavy passage of Swallows and House Martins, several hundred and 3 Sand Martin seen, a few Skylarks were on the move and a few Meadow Pipits.

 

Fri 2nd Oct 26

From the hide: 130+ Greylags, 60+ Teal, 17 Shoveler, 1 Shelduck, 1 Wigeon, 80+ Lapwing, 11 Golden Plover (Fly over), 9 Avocet, 2 Ruff (PL), 82 Blk H Gulls, 3 Swallows, 1 Sand Martin, 6+ Stonechat, 2 Reed Bunting, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Buzzard, 2 Sparrowhawk. PL/RJ/MO'H/DC/PB/MR.

 

 

Thurs 1st Oct 26

From the Hide: 130+ Greylag, 60+ Teal, 54 Shoveler, 3 Wigeon, 2 Shelduck, 6 Cormorant, 1 Grey Heron, 100+ Lapwing (mostly on the arable), 16 Avocet, 3 Snipe, 1 Water Rail, c50 Blk H Gulls, 5 Herring Gulls, 1 Med Gull, 2 Stonechat, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Swallow, 7+ Buzzard, 1 Red Kite, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Hobby, 1 Kestrel. PL/RJ/PNt./MR

Reports from today

Richard Jeffree

09:02 Brambling dell.

Photo Richard Jeffree©

Simon Cox

09:21 SEO in/off c08:00, landed on path then flew back out over seawall

12:06 Light passage of Mipits (c50), few Swallows, only saw one small flock of finches south, probably Linnets. One Clouded Yellow.

Pete Loud

13:20 Lots of finches in the Dell this morning, mainly Greenfinch & Goldfinch, 2 Chaffinch, 1 Brambling, 1 Siskin & Reed Bunting, 10+ Jays seen & 4 or 5 Great spot Woodpeckers, 2 more Brambling in the bushes behind the Sluice, from  the hide,1 Water Rail, 1 Hobby, 1 Red Kite, 2 Sparrowhawk & 10 + Buzzard, walk around to French point , 3 Stonechat & 3 Med Gulls over. Still several Clouded Yellows about today.

Brian Combes

17:29 Haven this morning included: 

149+ linnet (99 south, first significant finch passage of the autumn; 50+ on arable), 74 mipit (south), 11 swallow (south), 9 skylark (south), 2 pied wag (south), 1 grey wag (south), 1 brambling, 1 sparrowhawk, 2 wheatear, 5 stonechat, 4 goldcrest, 3 great spotted woodpecker (1 south along seawall), 1 lesser whitethroat, 5 chiff (1 singing), 4 blackcap, 5 song thrush, 9 greenfinch (including group of 7 on the golf course), 20+ goldfinch, 4 chaffinch, 9 reed bunting, 6 Cetti’s (singing), 65 lapwing, 15 avocet, 2 snipe, 8 buzzard (6 drifting south).